Bg. 6.20-23

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया ।
यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति ॥२०॥
सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद् बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् ।
वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः ॥२१॥
यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं ततः ।
यस्मिन्स्थितो न दुःखेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते ॥२२॥
तं विद्याद् दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् ॥२३॥

yatroparamate cittaṁ
niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā
yatra caivātmanātmānaṁ
paśyann ātmani tuṣyati

sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad
buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam
vetti yatra na caivāyaṁ
sthitaś calati tattvataḥ

yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ
manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ
yasmin sthito na duḥkhena
guruṇāpi vicālyate

taṁ vidyād duḥkha-saṁyoga-
viyogaṁ yoga-saṁjñitam

yatraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyatra

and wherever; anywhere; at home; at that time (when); from where; in place and time; in that; in that city; in that mountain (Trikūṭa); in that place where; in that state of affairs; in the Vaikuṇṭha planets; in those Vaikuṇṭha planets; in which; in which age; in which dynasty; in which forest; in which place (in the presence of exalted devotees); in which place; in whom; on which; on whom; the point where; there; there are; therein; thereupon; to the spot where; unto whom; upon her; upon whom (Mahārāja Ambarīṣa); when; whenever; where (the residential quarters of King Indra); where; where and how; where there is; wherein; wherein, in which dynasty; whereupon; wherever.—in that state of affairs; uparamateplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biguparamate

when one feels transcendental happiness.—when one feels transcendental happiness; cittamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigcittam

consciousness; desire; heart; his consciousness; mental activities; mind; mind, consciousness; one's consciousness or mental condition; the consciousness; the core of the heart; the heart; the mind; the mind and its activities; whose mind.—mental activities; niruddhamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigniruddham

choked up; restrained from matter.—restrained from matter; yogaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyoga

yoga practice; and mystic power; and of mystic yoga; and of the means; by bhakti-yoga, devotional service; by yoga; by yoga practice; by a conjunction; by devotional service; by mystic power; by mystic practice; by mysticism; by power of mystic yoga; by practice of yoga; by practice of devotion; by the process of linking with the Supreme by bhakti-yoga; concentration of the mind; connection; devotion; devotional service in karma-yoga; eightfold yoga; in the mystic yoga process; in the mystic yoga process; linking process; means; mystic haṭha-yoga; mystic yoga practices; mystic; mystic power; mystic powers; mystic yoga practice; mystic yogic meditation; of linking up; of mystic yoga; of mysticism; of the yoga system; of yogic perfections; practice of the mystic yoga system; the mystic yoga system; the practice of mystic yoga; the process of controlling the senses; the science of self-realization or bhakti-yoga; the yoga.-sevayāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsevaya

by hearing; by service; by serving; by such service; by the rendering of service; by the service; by the service of; simply by devotional service.—by performance of yoga; yatraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyatra

and wherever; anywhere; at home; at that time (when); from where; in place and time; in that; in that city; in that mountain (Trikūṭa); in that place where; in that state of affairs; in the Vaikuṇṭha planets; in those Vaikuṇṭha planets; in which; in which age; in which dynasty; in which forest; in which place (in the presence of exalted devotees); in which place; in whom; on which; on whom; the point where; there; there are; therein; thereupon; to the spot where; unto whom; upon her; upon whom (Mahārāja Ambarīṣa); when; whenever; where (the residential quarters of King Indra); where; where and how; where there is; wherein; wherein, in which dynasty; whereupon; wherever.—in that; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; evaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigeva

alone; also; also the word eva; although; as; as it is; as it were; as much as; as they are; at all; at that time; certainly; certainly,; certainty; completely; definitely; even; ever; exactly; exactly like; factually; Himself; immediately; in fact; in this way; indeed; it is all like that; just; just so; like; like that; like this; of course; on the very; only; quite; simply; so; surely; the word eva; they are; thus; truly; undoubtedly; very; without doubt.—certainly; ātmanāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigātmanā

as half of himself; by deliberate intelligence; by herself; by Himself; by His own energy; by His own self; by his purified intellect; by His transcendental body; by his transcendental intelligence; by intelligence; by me; by Myself; by oneself; by self; by self-realization; by the body; by the intelligence; by the living entity; by the mind; by the pure mind; by the purified mind; by the self; by the self-realization of; by themselves; by your constitutional position; by Your internal potency; by your own self; by Your potencies; by Yourself; heart and soul; myself; of your own self; of Your self; personally; pure self; soul; through your intellect; with a body; with the body; with the mind.—by the pure mind; ātmānamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigatmanam

and of the mind; by His energies; living entities; mind; most dear; of all living entities; of all other souls; of all the living entities; of men; of such a mind; of the body; of the living entities; of the people; of the subtle body; of those whose minds; the mind; thus inclined; whose minds are absorbed.—self; paśyanplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpaśyan

always trying to see or understand; by seeing; having been experienced; looking; realizing the position; seeing; seeing definitely; seeing like that.—realizing the position; ātmaniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigātmani

being situated in Him; in her heart; in herself; in himself; in his body; in his body and existence; in his own mind; in his own self; in His own self, or in the ordinary living entities; in intelligence; in my mind; in one's self; in person; in relation to Me; in relation to the Supreme Lord; in the body; in the heart; in the living entity; in the mind; in the pure state of the soul; in the self; in the soul; in the Superself; in the Supersoul; in the Supreme; in the Supreme Self; in the Supreme Soul; in the Supreme Spirit; in the Transcendence; in your own heart; in Your own self; in yourself; internal; of the ordinary living entity; of the self; on the self or the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; on the Supersoul; on their own; own self; self; the basic principle of all existence; the self; to himself; to the mind; to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the soul; unto Himself; unto the demons and demigods; unto the ego; unto the living entity; unto the Lord; unto the self; unto the soul; unto the Supersoul; unto the Supreme Lord; unto the Supreme Soul; unto Vāsudeva, the original person; upon the self; when the living entity; whom he considered to be himself; with the Supreme Supersoul; within himself; within the core of your heart; within the mind; within your self.—in the self; tuṣyatiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtuṣyati

becomes satisfied; is satisfied; is very pleased.—becomes satisfied; sukhamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsukham

all happiness; all right; amenities; any happiness; comfortable; comfortably; convenient; easily; happily; happiness; happiness due to pious activities; happy; in happiness; in pleasure; is all well; material happiness; sense enjoyment; Sukha; transcendental happiness; without difficulty.—happiness; ātyantikamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigātyantikam

liberation; supreme; the ultimate; uninterrupted.—supreme; yatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyat

which; about whom; all these; all those; although; and as; and whichever; anything; as; as a matter of fact; as it is; as its; as much as; as they are; because; because of; because of which; because of whom; by the result of which; by the Supreme Lord; by which; by which way; by whom (the Supreme Lord); by whom; by whose; by whose merciful; even though; everything that was required; fixed under Your direction; for; for which; from both of whom; from him; from which; from whom; from whose; from Yuyudha; he whose; his; His eternal form which; his son; if; in which; in whom; inasmuch as; Kṛṣṇa; now further; of him (Somāpi); of him; of Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune; of the fire-gods; of the Lord; of the Supreme Lord; of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; of which (the intermediate space); of which; of whom (of the Supreme Lord); who; who is; whom; whose; whose form; Your.—in which; tatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtat

establishment of the statement tat tvam asi.—that; buddhiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbuddhi

acceptance; and intelligence; by the intelligence; culture of knowledge; intelligence; of intellectual activities; of intelligence; of the intelligence; the intelligence.—intelligence; grāhyamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biggrāhyam

acceptable; perceived; should be accepted (remnants of food); to be accepted.—acceptable; atīndriyamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigatīndriyam

transcendental.—transcendental; vettiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvetti

does know; know; knows; one who knows; understands.—knows; yatraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyatra

and wherever; anywhere; at home; at that time (when); from where; in place and time; in that; in that city; in that mountain (Trikūṭa); in that place where; in that state of affairs; in the Vaikuṇṭha planets; in those Vaikuṇṭha planets; in which; in which age; in which dynasty; in which forest; in which place (in the presence of exalted devotees); in which place; in whom; on which; on whom; the point where; there; there are; therein; thereupon; to the spot where; unto whom; upon her; upon whom (Mahārāja Ambarīṣa); when; whenever; where (the residential quarters of King Indra); where; where and how; where there is; wherein; wherein, in which dynasty; whereupon; wherever.—wherein; naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—never; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; evaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigeva

alone; also; also the word eva; although; as; as it is; as it were; as much as; as they are; at all; at that time; certainly; certainly,; certainty; completely; definitely; even; ever; exactly; exactly like; factually; Himself; immediately; in fact; in this way; indeed; it is all like that; just; just so; like; like that; like this; of course; on the very; only; quite; simply; so; surely; the word eva; they are; thus; truly; undoubtedly; very; without doubt.—certainly; ayamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigayam

a person; all these (common men); all these; extraordinary it is; he (Śiva); He; Him; His; I am; in this; Kṛṣṇa; Lord Rāmacandra; of this; one; people in general; such a poor man; that; that is; the Lord; the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; the same; these; this (Caitanya-caritāmṛta); this (as measured by Brahmā's duration of life); this (child within the womb); this (child); this (Kṛṣṇa); this (Lord Śiva); this (rascal); this (what has been described); this brāhmaṇa; this; this action taken by you; this animal; this Bali Mahārāja; this child; this demon; this form; this incarnation of Kapila; this is; this King; this King Pṛthu; this Kṛṣṇa; this living entity; this Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; this man; this one (the Supreme Lord); this one; this period; this person (Ajāmila); this person (known as Ajāmila); this person; this Personality of Godhead; this process of creation and annihilation; this soul; this Vedic knowledge; Vasudeva; Śrī Kṛṣṇa; Śukadeva Gosvāmī.—in this; sthitaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsthitah

being situated; being so situated; existing; fixed; keeping (Yourself); placed; present in front of them; remained; situated; standing; thus being situated; thus situated; you are situated.—situated; calatiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigcalati

he moves; moves.—moves; tattvataḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtattvataḥ

by truth; factually; from the truth; from transcendental knowledge; in fact; in reality; in truth; just in accordance with the truth; truly.—from the truth; yamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyam

about whom; He who; He whom; him (Vena) whom; Him; Him whom; one who; that which; the person; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme Personality of Godhead who; to which; to whom; unto anyone to whom; unto one; unto the Personality of Godhead who; unto the Supreme Person; unto whom (Ambarīṣa Mahārāja); unto whom (Marutta); unto whom (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga); unto whom; upon whom; what; where; which (bridge); which (Vedic path); which; which son; who; whom (Paraśurāma); whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); whom (You); whom.—that which; labdhvāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biglabdhvā

achieving; after achieving; after getting; after receiving; after securing; by achieving; by attainment; by getting; by obtaining; finding; getting; having achieved; having attained; having gained; having gotten; obtaining; regaining.—by attainment; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; aparamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigaparam

another; any other; else; end; inferior; junior; lower; not other (than her husband); the next body; what else.—any other; lābhamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biglābham

gain.—gain; manyateplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmanyate

consider; considers; do speculate within the mind; does not mind; he considers; he thinks; is accepted; she thinks; think; thinks; would be considered; you are thinking; You think so.—does not mind; naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—never; adhikamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigadhikam

frequent; more; more raised; more than that.—more than that; tataḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtatah

after Kṛṣṇa took action to kill the demon's body from within the mouth; after purifying the seven planets of the seven great sages; after that; after that incident; after this; again from King Udgītha; among them; and there; and thereafter; as such; at that; at this time; because of that; because of this; because of this self-realization; beyond the brahmajyoti, or in His own Vaikuṇṭha planet; beyond whom; by such activities; by such duality; father; from Abhimanyu; from Agniveśya; from Bālika; from Citrakṛt; from Devadatta; from Devadyumna; from Divāka; from him (Ayu); from him (Ayutāyu); from him (Bhīmaratha); from him (Budha); from him (Cyavana); from him (Deva-ṛṣabha); from him (Dharma); from him (Dhundhumān); from him (Dhṛti); from him (Jaya); from him (Mīḍhvān); from him (Nandivardhana); from him (Pracinvān); from him (Ripuñjaya); from him (Ruṣadratha); from him (Sahasrānīka); from him (Satkarmā); from him (Satyaratha); from him (Skanda); from him (Suratha); from him (Svarga); from him (Sārvabhauma); from him (Vahni); from him (Vasu); therefore; therefore, because of this; therein; thereof; thereupon; whereby.—from that; yasminplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyasmin

around which; in a particular age; in any condition of life; in some place; in such sacrificial ceremonies; in that Jambūdvīpa; in the history of the transcendental activities of Kṛṣṇa upon the surface of the earth; in the situation; in which (dynasty); in which; in which land; in which sacrifices; in which Vaikuṇṭha; in whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead or the supreme place of repose); in whom; in whose; in You (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); on that; the basic platform on which; through whom; unto Him; unto whom; unto You; when; where; which; whom.—in which; sthitaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsthitah

being situated; being so situated; existing; fixed; keeping (Yourself); placed; present in front of them; remained; situated; standing; thus being situated; thus situated; you are situated.—being situated; naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—never; duḥkhenaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigduḥkhena

by miseries; by unhappiness; with difficulty.—by miseries; guruṇāpiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigguruṇāpi

even though very difficult.—even though very difficult; vicālyateplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvicālyate

becomes shaken; is agitated.—becomes shaken; tamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtam

by Him; Dhruva; Dhruva Mahārāja; for that reason; from him (Kardama); from him (Maitreya); him (Ajāmila); him (Arjuna); him (Bali); him (Cyavana); him (Dhruva Mahārāja); him (Gajendra); him (Gargamuni); him (Hiraṇyakaśipu); him (Indra); him (Jaḍa Bharata); him (Kardama); him (King Yayāti); him (King Yudhiṣṭhira); Him (Kṛṣṇa); him (Lord Indra); Him (Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva); him (Lord Śiva); Him (Nara-Nārāyaṇa); him (Nārada Muni); him (Prahlāda Mahārāja); him (Prajāpati Dakṣa); him (Pṛthu); him (Pṛṣadhra); Him (Rohiṇī-nandana, the son of Rohiṇī); him (the bull); him (the condemned person); him (the he-goat); him (the King of heaven, Indra); him (the King); Him (the Lord); him (the male bird); him (the saintly person); Him (the Supreme Lord); Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa); him (Tṛṇabindu); him (Vasudeva); him (Vidura); him (Viśvarūpa); Him (Vāmanadeva); him (Vṛtrāsura); him; Him, Lord Rāmacandra; him, Mahārāja Sumitra.—that; vidyātplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvidyāt

must know; one should know; one should understand; you must know.—you must know; duḥkhaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigduhkha

aggrieved; all distresses; difficulties; difficulty; disappointment; distress; distressed condition; grief; in distress; inconvenience; misery; of grief; of unhappiness; pains; the troubles; the unhappiness; trouble; troubles; unhappiness; unhappy.-saṁyogaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsaṁyoga

and combination; of the accepting; simultaneously; union.—miseries of material contact; viyogamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigviyogam

extermination.—extermination; yogaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyoga

yoga practice; and mystic power; and of mystic yoga; and of the means; by bhakti-yoga, devotional service; by yoga; by yoga practice; by a conjunction; by devotional service; by mystic power; by mystic practice; by mysticism; by power of mystic yoga; by practice of yoga; by practice of devotion; by the process of linking with the Supreme by bhakti-yoga; concentration of the mind; connection; devotion; devotional service in karma-yoga; eightfold yoga; in the mystic yoga process; in the mystic yoga process; linking process; means; mystic haṭha-yoga; mystic yoga practices; mystic; mystic power; mystic powers; mystic yoga practice; mystic yogic meditation; of linking up; of mystic yoga; of mysticism; of the yoga system; of yogic perfections; practice of the mystic yoga system; the mystic yoga system; the practice of mystic yoga; the process of controlling the senses; the science of self-realization or bhakti-yoga; the yoga.-samjñitamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsamjnitam

in the matter of; is described as; known as; so designated.—trance in yoga. ¶

The stage of perfection is called trance, or samādhi, when one’s mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This is characterized by one’s ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness and enjoys himself through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact. ¶

By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts. This is the primary characteristic of the yoga principle. And after this, one becomes situated in trance, or samādhi which means that the yogī realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence, without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself. Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patañjali system. Some unauthorized commentators try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation, but they do not understand the real purpose of the Patañjali system of yoga. There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patañjali system, but the monists do not accept this transcendental pleasure out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness. The duality of knowledge and knower is not accepted by the nondualist, but in this verse transcendental pleasure-realized through transcendental senses-is accepted. And this is corroborated by the Patañjali Muni, the famous exponent of the yoga system. The great sage declares in his Yoga-sūtras: puruṣārtha-śūnyānāṁ guṇānāṁ pratiprasavaḥ kaivalyaṁ svarūpa-pratiṣṭhā vā citi-śaktir iti. ¶

This citi-śakti, or internal potency, is transcendental. Puruṣārtha means material religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, at the end, the attempt to become one with the Supreme. This “oneness with the Supreme” is called kaivalyam by the monist. But according to Patañjali, this kaivalyam is an internal, or transcendental, potency by which the living entity becomes aware of his constitutional position. In the words of Lord Caitanya, this state of affairs is called ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam, or clearance of the impure mirror of the mind. This “clearance” is actually liberation, or bhava-mahādāvāgni-nirvāpaṇam. The theory of nirvāṇa-also preliminary-corresponds with this principle. In the Bhāgavatam this is called svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ. The Bhagavad-gītā also confirms this situation in this verse. ¶

After nirvāṇa, or material cessation, there is the manifestation of spiritual activities, or devotional service of the Lord, known as Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In the words of the Bhāgavatam, svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ: this is the “real life of the living entity.” Māyā, or illusion, is the condition of spiritual life contaminated by material infection. Liberation from this material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity. Patañjali also accepts this by his words kaivalyam svarūpa-pratiṣṭhā vā citi-śaktir iti. This citi-śakti or transcendental pleasure, is real life. This is confirmed in the Vedānta-sūtras as ānandamayo ‘bhyāsāt. This natural transcendental pleasure is the ultimate goal of yoga and is easily achieved by execution of devotional service, or bhakti-yoga. Bhaktiyoga will be vividly described in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā. ¶

In the yoga system, as described in this chapter, there are two kinds of samādhi, called samprajñāta-samādhi and asamprajñāta-samādhi. When one becomes situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches, it is called samprajñāta-samādhi. In the asamprajñāta-samādhi there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses. When the yogī is once situated in that transcendental position, he is never shaken from it. Unless the yogī is able to reach this position, he is unsuccessful. Today’s so-called yoga practice, which involves various sense pleasures, is contradictory. A yogī indulging in sex and intoxication is a mockery. Even those yogīs who are attracted by the siddhis (perfections) in the process of yoga are not perfectly situated. If the yogīs are attracted by the by-products of yoga, then they cannot attain the stage of perfection, as is stated in this verse. Persons, therefore, indulging in the make-show practice of gymnastic feats or siddhis should know that the aim of yoga is lost in that way. ¶

The best practice of yoga in this age is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is not baffling. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person is so happy in his occupation that he does not aspire after any other happiness. There are many impediments, especially in this age of hypocrisy, to practicing haṭha-yoga, dhyāna-yoga, and jñāna-yoga, but there is no such problem in executing karma-yoga or bhakti-yoga. ¶

As long as the material body exists, one has to meet the demands of the body, namely eating, sleeping, defending and mating. But a person who is in pure bhakti-yoga or in Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not arouse the senses while meeting the demands of the body. Rather, he accepts the bare necessities of life, making the best use of a bad bargain, and enjoys transcendental happiness in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He is callous toward incidental occurrences-such as accidents, disease, scarcity and even the death of a most dear relative-but he is always alert to execute his duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness or bhakti-yoga. Accidents never deviate him from his duty. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, āgamāpāyino ‘nityās tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata. He endures all such incidental occurences because he knows that they come and go and do not affect his duties. In this way he achieves the highest perfection in yoga practice. ¶